Redeemer Central

What happens when the gospel calls us to step past our safety zones and engage with the people we've deemed completely "beyond the pale"? In Part 3 of our series, John Herron explores one of the most seismic shifts in the early church: the radical inclusion of the Samaritans in Acts 8. For centuries, a deep-seated gulf of bitterness, ancestry, and religion had divided Jews and Samaritans, making S...

How does a movement that starts in a tiny, hidden corner of the world explode into a global reality? In Part 2 of our Before & After series, Adrian McCartney uses the vivid imagery of a 70-meter-long tapestry to trace the expansion of the early church from the Gospel of Luke into the Book of Acts. Moving from the narrow, traditional borders of Jerusalem, Adrian maps out a beautiful trajectory...

On this Pentecost Sunday, Adrian McCartney kicks off our new 5-week series, Before & After , exploring the missional trajectory found in the writings of Luke. Drawing on Luke’s unique perspective as an "outsider" (the only non-Jewish New Testament writer), Adrian explores how the Holy Spirit didn't just empower individuals, but birthed a brand new kind of community. By comparing the baptism of...

The meaning of the cross is bigger than any single theory. In the second part of this series, David Armstrong traces the road to Calvary — from Israel’s sacrificial system and the ritual of Yom Kippur to the Hebrew prophets wrestling with the tensions of justice and mercy. We also explore various rich understandings of Jesus’s death offered throughout church history — from Christus Victor to René...

From a piece of Roman graffiti scratched on a wall near the Palatine Hill, to the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. From an instrument of imperial terror, to the central symbol of the world's largest religion — inked on skin and worn around the necks of millions of people today. The journey of the cross is one of the most extraordinary stories in human history. But what actually happened at the cruci...

Mark 8 presents a collision between two visions of the kingdom. Peter's Messiah conquers. Jesus' Messiah suffers. In this Lenten message, David Armstrong traces that collision through history — from Christendom to colonialism to Christian nationalism — and argues that the church has repeatedly made Peter's error: baptising the way of empire in the name of Christ. The antidote, Jesus insists, is no...

The Good Samaritan What must we do to inherit eternal life? John Herron opens up one of Jesus most famous parables, the story of the Good Samaritan, showing that true life comes not from knowing the right words, but from the radical, often unexpected, act of loving our neighbour. This message challenges us to move beyond fear-based religion and towards a wider, more expansive love—a love that chan...

David Armstrong brings a Lenten message looking at a significant moment in Jesus life before he starts his ministry bringing God's Kingdom — his 40 nights in the wilderness and the three dark temptations that come to him. Chapters/Timestamps: [00:00] Intro [00:28] South Bend City Church Trip [01:55 ] Sermon - David Armstrong [30:38 ] Song - Fra Sands [35:49] Closing Prayer & Benediction 🌿 Giv...

Look for the Light (Part 4): The Courage of Gideon John Herron brings the fourth part of our series, 'Look for the Light: An Epiphany Series' as we reflect upon an ancient story found deep in the Old Testament scripture; the story of Gideon. The season of Epiphany calls us to slow down and pay attention to the divine presence of God revealed in Christ. As we do we discover God is so often found in...

David Armstrong brings the third part of our series, 'Look for the Light: An Epiphany Series' as we reflect upon Jesus first miracle. The season of Epiphany calls us to slow down and pay attention to the divine presence of God revealed in Christ. As we do we discover God is so often found in the darkest and most unlikely of places.

David Armstrong brings the second talk in our series, 'Look for the Light: An Epiphany Series' that calls for us to slow down during this season of Epiphany and pay attention to the divine presence of God. As seen in the coming of Christ, God is so often found in the darkest and most unlikely of places waiting to be discovered.  In the second Epiphany story we reflect upon Jesus Baptism.

Look for the Light (Part 1): The Magi David Armstrong brings the first talk in a new series, 'Look for the Light: An Epiphany Series' that calls for us to slow down during this season of Epiphany and pay attention to the divine presence of God. As seen in the coming of Christ, God is so often found in the darkest and most unlikely of places waiting to be discovered.  The first story we r...

Advent: Love Lifts All Places - Jason Miller (Guest) Many of us yearn for sacred spaces, believing true purpose lies elsewhere—in a grander city or a different life. But what if the divine arrives not where we expect, but in the ordinary, even out-of-the-way places we inhabit? In this Advent message, Jason reflects on his deeply personal connection to South Bend, Indiana, and how a fresh reading o...

Mary’s “yes” to the angel Gabriel was not just about understanding; it was about belonging. Her response, “I am the Lord’s servant; may your word to me be fulfilled,” reveals a profound surrender to God’s purpose. Scott Witherick helps us discover how ordinary people can be part of God’s extraordinary story and how our willingness to say “yes” makes room for Christ to lead us. Chapters/Timestamps:...

In this concluding part, David and Stephanie reflect on the series and why we decided to do it in the first place. With a deep conviction that our spiritual lives are defined by experience, not just belief, they discuss the human need for a relationship with the divine as a hunger to be filled rather than mere information. This honest conversation covers varied church experiences, the pain of reli...

Many of us are drawn to the spectacular and extraordinary, but what truly cultivates a deep life? In this message, David Armstrong explores Saint Paul’s invitation to follow the way of love, and eagerly desire the gifts of the Spirit. This isn’t about choosing one over the other, but allowing love to shape us within community, learning to grow depth in ordinary, sometimes challenging, shared life....

Stephanie Wilson continues The Familiar Stranger series with a powerful message that speaks to the reality of suffering in the human experience. She reminds us that suffering isn’t evidence of God’s absence but the very place where God meets us—the Holy Spirit groaning with us, comforting us in our pain, and bringing new life through our struggles. This healing presence leads to profound redemptio...

We often seek explanations before we are willing to experience God yet this is a reversal of the scriptural pattern where experience often precedes understanding.  David Armstrong explores the story of Nicodemus, a high-ranking Pharisee, and his encounters with Jesus across three key scenes: a secret night visit, a public festival, and the solemn act of a burial.  Nicodemus’s story invit...

Story Sunday: Jesus, Justice & Gaza with Anton Deik Anton Deik — a Palestinian Christian and scholar — shares his family’s story and invites us to see the human, ethical, and theological realities of life in Israel-Palestine. He challenges us to reckon with the injustices endured by the Palestinian people and to reflect on what faith, justice, and peace look like in the name of Christ. Anton D...

The Familiar Stranger: Part 6 — The Curious Case of Simon the Sorcerer In this teaching John Herron helps us explore the cautionary tale of Simon the Sorcerer from Acts 8 —a striking story of power, money, and misdirected spirituality. Through Simon’s attempt to buy the Holy Spirit, we confront the allure of spiritual shortcuts and self-promotion, contrasting them with the slow, transformative wor...

The Familiar Stranger: Part 5 — Dove Many associate the Holy Spirit with fire, wind, or powerful displays, but what if the truest image is quieter. Stephanie Wilson invites us to rediscover the Spirit not as a force to wield, but as a gentle presence that rests. Tracing the image of the dove through scripture—from Genesis to Jesus’ baptism—we uncover a Spirit that brings order out of chaos, offers...

Subversive Tables - Vision for a Community of Great Grace What does community look like in the church? In the 1st century Roman world, the dinner table was more than a place to eat—it was a stage for empire. Banquets celebrated Caesar, reinforced social hierarchies, and excluded anyone who didn’t belong. Around those tables, uniformity and status ruled. But in Luke 14, Jesus turns that entire syst...

The Familiar Stranger: Part 4 — Water The Bible’s story of the Spirit often comes with the image of water—rivers flowing into deserts, living streams making the Dead Sea fresh. David Armstrong unpacks the invitation Jesus gives when he brings holy disruption to the Feast of Tabernacles: “If anyone is thirsty, come to me and drink.” The Spirit not only quenches our thirst but makes us springs of li...

The Familiar Stranger: Part 3 — Breathe John Herron explores how the Holy Spirit, as God’s breath, transforms our lives. From Genesis to Pentecost, this divine “ruach” shapes chaos into order, brings life to the lifeless, and turns fear into courage. The Spirit makes Jesus’ promises personal, connecting head to heart and filling us with God’s love. Rather than starting our days with screens, we’re...

The Familiar Stranger: Part 2 — The Advocate Jesus said it was better for Him to leave so that the Advocate could come. But who is this Advocate? In a culture that longs for experience more than explanation, we discover the Holy Spirit as a person—not a vague life force—who comforts, guides, and empowers. In this sermon David Armstrong traces the Spirit’s story through Scripture and invites us to...